Music production graduate David Adams, 33, dreamed of stardom but his life spiralled out of control after the recruitment agency he owned went bust. He went from house to house in the New Forest burgling 130 homes
A former City trader branded the ‘gentleman thief’ for leaving the 130 homes he burgled ‘nice and tidy’ has been jailed for five years.
Music production graduate David Adams, 33, dreamed of stardom but his life spiralled out of control after the recruitment agency he owned went bust.
The former foreign exchange broker turned to gambling and burglary to repay his debts.
Since 2014, privately educated Adams has carried out over 130 burglaries, mostly on rural homes he cycled to because he couldn’t drive.
His latest wave of break-ins were in the New Forest, Hampshire, where he cycled from village to village to carry out his crimes.
Bournemouth Crown Court heard he meticulously planned them, visiting the villages before and recording the position of blinds and curtains of potential homes to target in a notebook. He had already served three years in prison for burglary, where he was described as the ‘model inmate’, helping other convicts to read and write.
He even took part in a prison opera production of Les Miserables.
Ironically, he played the role of Bishop Myriel who took pity on criminal Jean Valjean when he was caught stealing his silver, telling the authorities he had given it to him.
The opera company who put on the production, Pimlico Opera, said they saw ‘great promise’ in Adams, whose father was in the RAF and died in an accident before he was born.
After he was released from his first stretch in prison in early 2016 he returned to his criminal ways.
Between November 2016 and August 2017 single-handedly increased the burglary rate threefold in some rural areas, stealing cash and jewellery from homes in the New Forest villages of Sway, Hordle, New Milton, West Wellow and Nursling.
He admitted 58 burglaries on top of the 80 he had carried out between 2013 and 2014 on properties in Surrey, Dorset, and Hampshire, which he went to prison for.
Stuart Ellacott, prosecuting, said: ‘The area affected by this spate of offending in effect had what amounted to a threefold increase in the number of burglaries committed when compared to previous years.’
Jonathan Reuben, defending, said Adams turned to gambling after a recruitment business began to fail and when he lost he turned to burgling.
His latest wave of break-ins were in the New Forest, Hampshire, where he cycled from village to village to carry out his crimes. Pictured: The New Forest village of Sway
Mr Reuben said: ‘He does not hold a driving licence, and travelled by train with his bike to the areas of these burglaries.
‘The defendant targeted houses that appeared empty. He entered, where possible, to the rear of the houses, and was careful to do as little damage as he could.
‘Mr Adams is a model inmate, and helps fellow inmates to read and write.
‘He played Bishop Myriel in a performance of Les Misérables featuring professionals and inmates.
‘The theatre company involved, Pimlico Opera, see great promise in him and have indicated they will offer him work when he is released.
‘Mr Adams is a proud man not always able to admit failure or ask for help, despite coming from a supportive family.
‘He has the dubious honour in his family of being the first to go to prison.
‘He turned to gambling to make money but his life spiralled out of control.’
Mr Reuben added that Adams’ father died before he was born in January 1985.
In September 1984 David Adams, 37, was killed in an accident involving a rotor blade of Chinook helicopter in the Falklands.
A letter written by Adams was read aloud to the court. In it, he said he ‘tries too hard to be likeable’.
He wrote: ‘I am so sorry for my actions and I hope one day I can put things right and be forgiven.’
Bournemouth Crown Court(pictured) heard he meticulously planned them, visiting the villages before and recording the position of blinds and curtains of potential homes to target in a notebook
A psychiatric report highlighted the defendant’s ‘gross persistence of irresponsible behaviour and disregard for social norms’.
Judge Brian Forster QC told Adams: ‘This case is a tragedy for you.
‘You are clearly a person of ability. You went to university. You have had opportunities in your life that many people would love to have.’
Speaking after the sentence, Detective Sergeant Will Whale, of Hampshire police, said: ‘The sheer volume of burglaries caused concern in a number of communities and we’re delighted to have brought the man responsible to justice.’
Adams, of Poole, Dorset, was sentenced to five years and four months in prison.